Self-winding clock.



s. s. BESORE. SELF WINDING CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1910.

1,032,108,- Patented July 9, 1912.

UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

SHELBY S. BESORE, 0F URBANA, ILLINOIS.

SELF-WINDING CLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 9, 1912.

Application fi led June 22, 1910. Serial No. 568,33

clocks, and has particular reference to the means for making and breaking an electric circuit in order to actuate the winding arbor and thereby wind the mainspring so that the operation of the clock will continue. The invention-consists in certain novel features of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which will be hereinafter first fully described and then particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is an elevation of a clock train showing my improved winding mechanism in position with the contacts just about to close the circuit. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the contacts separated in full lines with the lever or key attached to the winding shaft raised and showing the raised position of the armature in dot-ted lines. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of the armature. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the relative movement of the contacts. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a part of the mechanism.

The clock frame 1 may be of any desired or suitable construct-ion, and in the drawings the nearer plate of the frame is broken away so as to more clearly disclose the construction of the parts constituting my present invent-ion. The winding arbor 2 is journaled in and extends bet-ween the side plates of the frame and is connected by suitable gearing with the intermediate arbor 3 and the escapement arbor 4, the pendulum rod 5 being driven from the escapement arbor in the usual manner.

Mounted upon the winding arbor 2 in any convenient manner so as to be driven by the same and connected with the main spring 6 is a lever arm or key 7 which projects radially from the shaft and constitutes one of the circuit-closing members and also the spring winding member. The member 7 is provided at its lower end wit-h a finger or projection S which is adapted to impinge against the upper end of a contact strip 9 which is secure-d to but insulated at 9 Fig. 5 from, the armature lever 10, and is connected with a battery 11 by a conductor 12,

as shown. This contact 9 is constructed of a piece of sheet metal ,and has its upper end bent inward so as to project over the edge of the armature lever 10 into the path of movement of the lever 7 so that as the spring unwinds, the 'said lever 7 will swing downward and ride upon the projecting end of the contact member 9 and thereby close the circuit to the battery, the lever having a grounded connection through the clock frame with a post 13 on the side thereof,

which is connected by a conductor 14 through an electro-magnet 15 from which a conductor 16 extends tothe battery, as will be readily understood. The armature lever 10 carries a roller 17 just above the contact member 9, and is provided at its upper end with an outwardly projecting arm 18 which extends between the side plates of the frame and carries the armature proper 19, the said arm 18 being pivotally mounted in the clock frame by means of pivot pins 20, as will be readily understood. The armature 19 is disposed directly over the electro magnet- 15 and will be attracted thereby when the magnet is energized, as will occur when the point 8 of-v the lever arm 7 strikes against and rides upon the projecting end of the contact 7 strip 9,

The operation of the device will be readily understood. As the spring 6 unwinds, the lever or arm 7 will be carried downward so that it will strike against the upper end of the contact 9 just prior to the complete unwinding of the spring. Immediately upon the point 8 and the contact member 9 com ing together, the circuit will be closed through the battery and the electro-magnet will be energized so as to attract the armature 19 and thereby swing the armature lever 10 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The upward and inward movement of the armature lever will cause the end 8 of the lever 7 to rise upon the end of the contact member 9 and the roller 17 will bear against the edge of the lever 7 so that the said lever 7 will be quickly thrown backward and upward so as to wind the spring, and the impetus of the lever 7 will carry it be yond the limit of movementof the armature lever so as to break the circuit and permit the armature and its lever to return to their initial positions. The movement of the key or winding lever and the armature lever will be readily understood on reference to Fig. 4. The point or tip 8 of the key strikes against the extreme end 22 of the contact strip 9 and as armature lever swlngs upward the point of the key rides downwardover the concave seat formed at the end of the contact strip 9 and leaves the same at the shoulder 23, the latter serving to keep clean.

lhe device is extremely simple in its construction and is efiicient for the intended purpose. -The circuit being closed at the upper extremity of the contact strip there will be no spark and'consequcntly no corrosion of the parts at that point. The friction between the moving parts serves to keep the surfaces bright and cleanse that a perfect contact willbe assured at all times. The only spark will'be formed at the shoulder 23 where the contact is broken'and the discoloration at this point will be overcome by the movement of the parts away from each other. The length of the armature lever is such that the lower end of the lever, When the circuit is broken, will rest against one of the transverse fastening bolts of the clock frame so that it cannot swing outward to such an extent as to carry the contact 9 out of the path of movement of the lever 7, while 'the said lever 7 is a thin fiat plate which will not add appreciably to the load put on the main spring. As the contact strip 5) returns instantly to its former position after the spring is Wound there is no fricthe contact tion exerted by the winding devices to hinder the running of the clock.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is The combination with a clock frame, an eiectro-magnet, and an armature for the magnet supported by the clock frame, of a winding arbor mounted in the frame, a main spring attached to the arbor, a winding lever attached to the main spring and mounted'on the Winding arbor and having a projection on one edge at its lower end, a lever depending from the armature, acontact strip secured to the armature lever but insulated therefrom and projecting into the path of movement of the Winding lever and arranged to have a wi ing engagement therewith, a roller carried liv the armature lever to contact with the winding lever, and electrical connections whereby when the winding lever engages the contact strip, the armature lever will be vibrated to impart a reverse movement to the winding. lever and thereby rewind the main spring.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, 1 have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SHELBY S. BESORE.

Witnesses:

CHAS. A. BONGART, G. H. BAKERJ Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatents,

- Washington, D. C. 

